#4 A Weekend Well Spent

The fourth installment of A Weekend Well Spent. A series of mini-guides to London and some things I'm loving that week.

Last week, I publically exclaimed that the festive feelings had well and truly arrived. Well, I fear those feelings may have waned ever so slightly (ha!). I don’t feel completely bereft of Christmas joy already, but I think the reality is that, for many of us, this time of year is filled with ebbs and flows. The weight of the year starts to sit heavy on the heart and mind; we start to miss those who aren’t around, and the pressure to be having the most wonderful time can seep into our abilities to actually enjoy those wonderful times. I think I’m also feeling more sensitive to the consumption overload this year. I feel exhausted from the bombardment of messages to buy/ shop/ save/ plan, and it’s only the start of December. The more I scroll and shop and browse, the further away from myself I’ve been feeling. I’ve found myself becoming uncertain of my tastes and likes and second-guessing my understanding of the tastes and likes of the people in my life. The endless shopping is also not what can make this time of year so sweet and cosy and hopeful, which is the only thing I’m striving for.

In moments like these, I find it’s best to simplify and get back to basics, staying close to home and finding comfort in old favorites. This weekend, I did exactly that.

What are we seeing:

The boys! AKA, the Arsenal men’s team. Occasionally, we are lucky enough to get tickets to see the Arsenal men’s side play at the Emirates, and Saturday was one of those days. Arsenal has a very special place in my heart. I’m from North London, and they are my home club, with the stadium just up the road from where I grew up, so it’s always a treat to get to go. It’s such a fun experience, no matter the result - sort of- but it’s really fun when they win, which they did.

This year, the Emirates became the main home for the Arsenal women’s team’s home games, and they have one coming up on the 8th of December. I have been to a few Arsenal women’s games, and they are amazing. You can buy tickets here.

This weekend, we also saw Gladiator II at The Castle Cinema, a beautiful, two-screen cinema that looks like something straight out of 1920s Hollywood. For the past couple of years, Josh and I have made weekly cinema trips here a bit of a winter tradition. We have been a bit lax this year but are determined to get back into the swing of it.

Look, I’m not here to provide critique or an in-depth film review, but what I will say is that if you have been swooning over that video of Paul Mescal riding a horse for Hollywood Authentic, you will probably want to see this film.

Where are we eating:

I had the most exquisite fried eggs from Potter & Reid, served with friggitelli peppers and whipped tahini.

Potter & Reid is one of, if not my favourite, cafes in London. It’s down a quiet street in Spitalfields and is the perfect place to spend a couple of hours. The menu is seasonal and changes weekly. The dishes are simple and comforting but always have beautiful and rich flavours. They feel very much like a celebration of produce.

The cafe’s interior is chic yet warm and cosy. The tables and chairs are made of beautiful dark wood, and the walls are lightly dressed with a handful of beautiful photography prints. The owners, Agnes and Dani, have said they wanted Potter & Reid to be the ultimate neighborhood cafe, and I think they have done exactly that.

What are we making:

More jam. It is the season I fear. I’ve been desperate to try Tess’s rhubarb, ginger, and vanilla jam, and when I saw a bunch of rhubarb on offer at Waitrose, I knew it was time. It was unsurprisingly delicious and would make a very lovely gift.

What are we reading:

I’m still reading and loving The Hobbit, but like all of us, I have been reading a mammoth amount of gift guides. Kayla Roolaart’s guide to making gifts was by a mile my favourite. It’s full of thoughtful, inspiring gift ideas and was such a refreshing read.

That’s it for this weekend! x